In This Issue

Feature Topic

Honoring Our Veterans

November 11, 2014, marked the 60th observance of Veterans Day. Out of the estimated 22 million U.S. Veterans living today, 16.5 million, or 75%, served in Wartime and just over 7 million Veterans are of the Vietnam Era.

Learn about:

• The history of PTSD in Veterans in a timeline that reflects military events and the importance of Veterans
• The mental health effects of serving in OEF/OIF
• The mental and physical effects of the Gulf War on U.S. Veterans and what is known about Gulf War illness.

Women are the fastest growing group of Veterans. There are an estimated 2 million female U.S. Veterans.

• Read about the traumatic stressors faced by women Veterans and what can help.

The number of older Veterans is also on the rise. Nearly 10 million Veterans, just under half of the total Veteran population, are 65 years of age or older.

• Learn about how older Veterans may develop PTSD symptoms later in life and what can help

Resources for Veterans and Their Families

Veterans, as well as their families and friends, often have questions about trauma, PTSD, eligibility for VA services, service connection, and more.

• Read answers to common questions and learn about resources available to Veterans and families.
• Check out our Returning from the War Zone guides for military personnel and their families.

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For Providers

Community Provider Toolkit

As a community provider, do you routinely ask about military service or know how to help a Veteran get connected with VA? Check out our Community Provider Toolkit to learn how to ask about military service, refer to VA, understand military culture, and learn about Veteran-specific treatment tools in mini clinics.

Continuing Education

PTSD 101 - Understanding Military Culture When Treating PTSD:

Learn about military demographics, branches, rank, status, and stressors, as well as types of operational/combat stress interventions Servicemembers experience in the military.

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For VA Providers

VA Communities of Practice on SharePoint

Check out trauma-related Intranet sites and the evidence-based treatment rollout sites to access discussion boards, training calendars, patient education materials, and treatment resources on PTSD and related issues.

2014 VA PTSD Consultation Program and Lecture Series

Subscribe!

VA staff please sign up for VA Staff PTSD Updates to receive monthly notices that include a registration link and instructions for joining the live lectures.

Next Lecture in the Series

• 12/17 at 2 pm ET - Andrew Saxon, MD, and Kendall Browne, PhD on PTSD and Cannabis Use

Mark your calendar for the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2 pm ET.

Free PTSD consultation for anyone working with Veterans.
Call 866-948-7880 or
Email PTSDconsult@va.gov.

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Research at the Center

Work and Family Functioning in Women Veterans

The focus of this longitudinal study is to better understand female Veterans', as compared to male Veterans', postdeployment functioning and use of VA programs. The project will help identify how well VA services address gender-specific needs of returning Veterans.

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PTSD in the News

Long battles remain for Veterans suffering from PTSD. Dr. John Krystal, Director of our Clinical Neurosciences Division, contributes to a story in the New York Daily News on Veterans Day. Read more.*

Be sure to forward this update to others so they can subscribe. We send only one update per month to keep you informed of the latest PTSD developments.

The Veterans population statistics provided in this Update can be found within the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics website.

Thank you,

The Staff of VA’s National Center for PTSD

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